Holsters



Dec. 15, 1959 G. R. BUCHEIMER EVAL 2,917,213

HOLSTERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11, 1957 e. maf/'ARD BUCHE/MER ALBEN u. K/PPE/v Lw mv.. /M N www N ...w l Q /U Dec. 15, 1959 G. R. BucHElMER EVAL 2,917,213

HoLsTERs Filed Jan. 11,'1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 Q R/CHARD BUCHE/MER ALBERT J. K/PPEN INVENToRs ATTORNEY United y States Patent j HOLSTERS George Richard Bucheimer and Albert J. Kippen,

Frederick, Md.

Application January 11, 1957, Serial No. 633,758

s claims. (c1. 224-2.)

This invention relates to holsters for sidearms, and more particularly to a holster having provisions for fast withdrawal of the sidearm therefrom, and incorporating means for preventing inadvertent firing of the sidearm while in the holster, together with convenient and simple means for attaching and detaching the holster from its supporting belt.

In the usual holster used to carry a pistol, it is desirable to provide a flap or strap, usually equipped with a snap-type fastener, to retain the pistol securely within the holster. Such a flap or strap, however, constitutes an impediment to rapid withdrawal of the pistol, since the snap must first be unfastened before'the pistol can be grasped and withdrawn. Ordinary holsters also are provided with means for being supported on a belt, usually taking the form of a loop through which the belt may pass. This loop is sometimes provided with a snap fastener to allow removal of the holster without unfastening the belt. In either case, however, there is no secure attachment to prevent movement of the holster, so that if it is necessary to rapidly Withdraw the pistol, the holster may slide up or rock, thereby impeding the withdrawal.

The holster of this invention eliminates the difliculties enumerated above by providing a unique configuration of a retaining flap and snap fastener on the holster which allows the butt of the pistol to be grasped and the snap fastener to be released simultaneously so that the pistol may be withdrawn as rapidly as if there were no flap. At the same time, the configuration of the flap is such that when it is fastened, it prevents motion of the hammer,

thus preventing the pistol from being cocked or fired while in the closed holster. To eliminate unwanted motion of the holster when the pistol isV being withdrawn, and to provide rapidand easy removal of the holster from the belt, an' adjustable metal clip is provided which may be easily adjusted to suit belts of various widths, yand which slips easily over the belt to lock into place without the necessity for a snap or other type of fastening device.

It is the object of this invention, therefore, to provide a holster with means for allowing easy and rapid unfastening of the retaining flap.

It is another object of this invention to provide a holster incorporating means for preventing cocking or firing of a pistol while in the closed holster.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a holster having adjustable supporting means for preventing motion of the holster relative to its supporting belt when a pistol is being withdrawn therefrom.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a holster which may be readily and easily secured to or removed from a belt without the use of fastening devices.

These and further objects will become apparent from the accompanying 'description together with the drawings which represent a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of the holster showing the adjust- 2 able clip and the mode of attachment to a supporting belt. Y

Figure 2 is a view of the reverse side of the holster from that shown in Figure 1 and showing the position of the retaining flap when in closed position to prevent` motion of the hammer on the pistol.

Figure 3 is a front view of the holster in the position normally Worn, and showing the position of the hand of the wearer when the -butt of the pistol is grasped for withdrawal. v

InA the embodiment of this invention depicted in the drawing, the holster 1 is provided with an outer flap 2 formed integrally with the outer side of the holster and folding inwardly toward the body ofthe wearerracross the butt end of a pistol 3 to retain the pistol securely within the holster. The inner side of holster 1'is extended upwardly to form a flap or tab 4, the top edge of which may extend slightly above the upper side of ap 2 when the flap is in place across the butt end of the pistol, as in Figure 3. A snap fastener of conventional type is mounted with one element 5 in the tab 4, and the mating element 6 in the flap 2. As 'may be seen in Figure 3, the ap 2 overlies the butt end of the pistol 3 and extends between the pistol and tab 4. Whentheholster is worn at the side in the normal fashion, and the hand 7 of the wearer grasps the butt of the pistol as in Figure 3, the thumb 8 falls into position atop flap` Zand adjacent tab 4, so that slight pressure exerted by the thumb against tab 4 will disengage the fastener elements 5 and 6, allowing the pistol to be withdrawn without removing the hand yfrom the butt. This is lin contrast to the usual holster arrangement in which the retaining liap is formed as an extension of the inner side of the holster, or the retaining strap is attached to the'inner side of the holster and overlies the butt of the pistol to fasten on the outside, thus requiring a separate motion of the hand to .unfasten the iiap before the pistol ,butt can be grasped for withdrawal. The positional relationship between the flap 2 and the tab 4 allows the pistol to be replaced with one hand Without requiring the extra effort and motion which is necessary to move ythe conventional type of flap or strap out of the way when the pistol is replaced. A further advantage lies in the'fact that the fastener is not visible when the holster is being worn, thus reducing the likelihood of the gun being snatched from the holster by someone other than thewearer. t

As can be most clearly seen n Figure 2, the flap Z passes around and engages the rear side of the hammer 9 of pistol 3 when the flap Vis fastened in closed position, preventing motion of the hammer and precluding firing of the pistol while it is in the holster. This feature of construction effectively prevents unintentional tiring of the pistol by the wearer or by the trigger beingengaged `by an object or projection while being worn.

To fasten the holster to the wearers belt 10, a metal clip 11 is provided, which is attached by means of screws 12 to a downwardly extending tab 13. The tab 13 may be of any suitable material, relatively stiff, and is attached at its upper edge to the side of the holster nearest the wearer. A spacer 14 may be provided between the tab and the holster to give suitable clearance for the clip 11. A series of holes 15 are provided in the tab 13 to allow adjustment in the vertical position of clip 11 with respect to the spacer 14. To attach the holster to the belt, it is necessary merely to insert the tab 13 between the wearers body and the belt and shove the holster down until it has reached the position shown in Figure l in which the upturned flange 16 on the lower edge of clip 11 engages the lower edge of belt 10. When the clip is in this position, very little clearance is left between the upper edge of the belt and the spacer 14,

ratnfed Dec.. 1s, A195s` so that the holster will not rock on the wearers belt, and will not slide up by any substantial amount when the pistol is withdrawn. Disengagement of the holster from the belt can` be eected byv simply 'pushing tab 13 toward` the wearer and away from the holster to release clip 11, and lifting the holster clear ofthe belt.

With the arrangement described, a holster is `provided which overcomes all of the objections tothe conventional type. The unique arrangement of retaining iiap and fastener allows the pistol to be rapidly and easily unfastened and. withdrawn with one hand, with similar ease in replacement. A safety feature is provided by the conformation of the flap which prevents firing of the gun while in the holster by preventing motion of the hammer. The position of the fastener, which is hidden from view, provides an additionalY safety feature by preventing anyone other than the wearer from releasing and withdrawing the pistol from the holster. Exceptional ease in attaching the holster to the wearers belt is attained by the, provision of an open clip which electively retains the.. holster in place on the belt, but which may be removed by simply disengaging the clip, and which is adjustable for various width belts so that the holster is held'securely and rockingl and sliding motion is prevented.

While but one embodiment of the inventionlias been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope' of the appended claims.

We claim:

l.. A rapid draw holster comprising a pocket having an open end into which a pistol is adapted to be inserted, said pocket having -an inner wall adapted to be carried next to the wearer and an outer wall spaced from the inner wall, the pistol being received between the inner and outer walls when inserted inrsaid pocket with the butt end of the pistol protruding beyond the open end, an inner flap on said inner wall extending upwardly beyond thevopenend offthepocket and having an inner surface in contact with the wearer andan outer surface adjacent the butt end ofthe pistol, an outer flap on said outer wall, said'outer ap when in closed position having a rst portion extending upwardly beyond the open end of the pocket, a middle portion extending across the open end of the pocket and over the butt end of the pistol and a terminal portion extending downwardly toward the open end of the pocket in a direction opposite to the direction in which the iirst portion extends, the' inner flap extending above the middle portion of said outer ap when the latter is in closed position, the outer surface of said terminal portion being in contact with said outer surface of the inner flap whereby the latter is between the wearer and. the terminal portion, anda twoeleruent snap fastener whose elements are operatively joined when moved into.v engagement upon relative movement in one direction and whose elements are separable when moved out of engagement upon relative movement in a direction opposite to the one direction, one element being on the outer surface of said terminal portion where it contacts the outer surface of the inner ap and one element being on the outer surface of said inner ap where it contacts the outer surface of said terminal portion, said outer flap being releasably attached to the inner ilap and serving to retain the pistol in the pocket when said elements are operatively joined, with the.v directions of relative movement to operatively join and to separate the elements being normal to the inner flap.

2. A rapid draw holster comprising a pocket having an open end into which a pistol is adapted to be inserted, said pocket having two wallsv to deiine interior surfaces which face the pistol, a ap on each wall extending beyond the open end of the pocket, each ilap having an interior and exterior surface with the interior surfaces of the flaps forming continuations of the interior surfaces of the'walls, and cooperable fastener` elements carried by one flap on its interior surface and by the other flap on its exterior surface, said other flap being in closed position to retain the pistol in the pocket when the flap extends across the open end of the pocket and' and said elements are operatively engaged, said one" flap' having a portion extending beyond said other ap when the latter is in closed position, said elements being dis'-v engageable by the application of pressure upon the interior surface of saidportion.

3". A rapid draw holster comprising a pocket having an open end into which. a pistol is adapted' to be inserted, said pocket having two spaced opposing' walls to define opposing interior surfaces whichface the pistol, a ap on each wall extending beyond the open' end of the pocket, each flap having an interior and exterior surface with the interior surfaces of the flaps'. forming" continuations of the interior surfaces of the walls,` and cooperable fastener means carried by one iiap" onA its interior surface and by the other flap onY its exterior surface, said other flap being in closed position to retain the pistol' in the pocket when the lap extends across the open end of the pocket and said fastener means is operatively engaged, said one flap having a portion extending beyond said other flap when the latter is in closed position, said fastener means being disengageable by thev application of pressure upon the interior surface of said portion4 ihV a"` direction normal to the last mentioned surface.

References Cited. in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,138,978 Meine Dec. 6, 19;'328 2,297,008 McMillan Sept. 29.,V 1942 2,765,968 Gaylord Oct. 9,1956 

